Automobile sled attachment



,pAug. 9, 1927. 1,638,195

G; cQGRAvEs AUTOMOBILE SLED ATTACHMENT Filed Jun 1l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 9, 1927.

. 1,638,195 G. C. GRAVES AUTOMOBILE SLED ATTACHMENT Filed June 1l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9.111.119.- 6, frayed* J ma f W Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE c. GRAVES, or EooKEoED, MrcHrGAN.

vAUTOMOBILE SIJED ATTACHMENT.

Application filed .Tune 11, 1925. Serial No. 36,473. Y v

This invention relates to a sled attachment for automobiles and thejlike, andv it has reference to a device of this kind which embodies a pair of runners which are fastened to the front end ofthe automobile together with a pair of traction belts fastened to the rear end, the belts and runners being on a plane above thebottoms of the usual wheels so that when the automobile is driven through deep Snow and the wheels are unable to function, the sled will come into play, support the body, and carry the automobile through thefsnowf One feature of the invention is the novel means employed whereby the existing steering mechanism of the automobile may be utilized to advantage for steering the runners at the front of the automobile.

Another feature is the yieldable means employed for supporting the rear pairV of traction belts, together with practical transmission gearing whereby power may bederived from the rear drive wheels of the automobile for operating the traction belts. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying rdrawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional form of automobile showing the same r equipped with a sled attachment, Vconstructed in accordance with the present, invention.

Figure 2is a side elevation of Figure 1.'

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showing the operating means for one of the traction belts.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the forward port-ion of one of the front runners showing the manner of mounting r. and steering the same. v

4" In carrying out the invention I employ, as before stated, a pair of duplicate run' ners 1 at the front of the automobile. These are hung from the front axle 2 (see Fig- En ure 4). Also, as shown in this ligure,- a

plate 3 is rigidly fastened to the central portion of the runner and a spindle 4 is pivotally connected with this plate and extends upwardly and is rotatably received in a sectional housing 5 permanently fastened' to the front axle as shown. lAlso rising from the plate 3 is a rigid finger 6 which is receivedbetween the tines of a fork 7, this fork being yrigidly rfastenedto the transversely shiftable rod. 8 ofthe usual steiering mechanism` at the front. The rod 9 is simplythat rod which transmits motion to the rod 8 from the steering wheel. B preference, two coil springs 10 arev employed one at .the front andl one at the rear-'of the axle" for 4maintaining* the runner in a Vsubstantially horizontal or level position. i The aforesaid traction belts are represented by the reference characters 11. y Each traction belt vand its complementalparts, is supported from a pair of spaced forwardly extending arms 12 clampedor otherwise fastened upon the rear. axlehousing. There is a brace 13 betweenthese arms, and a connectmg rod 14 between the inner arms of the two pairs of arms at opposite sides of -the chassis frame. Appropriate leaf springs 15 are connected to this shaft 14 and with the chassis bars of the automobile frame in any appropriate manner. Referring now to Figur-e 3, it will be seen that there is a sprocket 16 journaled uponthe rear axle housing and equipped with anti-friction roller bearings 17. At its outer end thisk sprocket is open and formed with an internal gear'18 withwhich a pinion 19 is in mesh, the pinion being carried by a short ,rotatably mounted stub shaft 20. It is desirable to provide a bearing clamp.l 21 for this stub shaft. Also mounted on this stub shaft is a shiftable cog wheel 22, the cogs of which are adapted to mesh with the teeth 0n a ring gear 23 carried by the plate 24.

This plate isfastened vto the adjacent rear drive wheel. It isfof such construction. that it surrounds and does not interfere with theV Adjustably l relatively stationary bracket arm 26 upon which a bell crank 27 ispivotally mounted.

It should be noticed that the short arms of the bell cranks are connected with the sliding cogs 22 while the long arms are pivotally connected at their inner adjacent ends with a longitudinal operating rod 28, this rod being in turn actuated by an appropriate lever 29 disposed Within convenient reach of the drivers seat. The outside rodsf30 are simply the radius rods provided and the rods 31 are those which are employed 'for operating the rear Wheel brakes.

y From the oregoingdescription it is obvious that I have produced an attachment for a conventional form of motor vehicle' wherein when deep snow is encountered, the runners and traction belts will come into play .in -affording a means for supporting the entire Weight of the vehicle and at the vsame time driving it forward over the snow use in ,connection withk an ordinary drive Wheel of'an automobile said means compris ing an 'attachment adapted to propel a'sled attachment and including a pair or spaced -parallel arms provided at their rear ends with clamps adapted to be Amounted upon the rear Wheel axle housing, 'front and rear sprockets mounted for rotation between Said arms, said rear sprockets being hollow Aand open at its outerV end and provided at said outer end With an internal an endless traction beltv trained over said sprockets, a

bearing adapted to be supported on said rear axle housing adjacent said interealegear, a shaft journaled for rotationin the bearing, a: pinion yon the inner endV of the'shai't in inesh with ythe teeth oi vsaid internal'gear', a shii'table :cog carried by the outer'end portion of this'sha'i't, a ring gear With lwhich said shatv .is adapted to cooperate7V said ring gear 'being adapted for mounting on said drive wheel and operating means 'orshiiting` said cog on said shaft. f 1

In testimony whereofl l iny 'signature. v GEORGE c. enirvns- 

